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In 1990, I was seven months pregnant and got chickenpox. We were terrified that we might lose our son. In the early stages of pregnancy, chickenpox can cause scarring, damage to fetal organs, and developmental and learning difficulties. In the second trimester, it can be fatal for mother and baby.
Since there was no vaccine or treatment available in the United States at the time, I could only hope that everything would be okay. My OB/GYN made home visits to ensure that I and the virus did not stay in his office. For three weeks, my pregnant belly and I endured pain, fever, chills, and constant itching that kept us up at night. My husband and I held our breath and hoped that our son would not be born early. Instead, he was born two weeks late and was safe. We were lucky. And I decided not to take any more risks.
In 1995, at my son’s pediatrician’s office, we were one of the first to get the chickenpox vaccine when it became available. My son got the vaccine, as did his sisters a few years later. I wanted to make sure that none of them, like me, were at risk of contracting a potentially dangerous virus as adults.
What is a vaccine?
Vaccines contain a weakened or inactivated form of a virus, such as chickenpox, and train our immune system to recognize the virus and make antibodies to fight it. It’s like an instruction manual for our immune system. Once enough people have developed immunity to the vaccine, herd immunity makes it more difficult for the disease to spread and some diseases eventually disappear completely. This is why we don’t see cases of smallpox. Or a baby with polio in an iron lung.
But some recent changes to vaccine recommendations have raised doubts and confusion among some and led some to pause the vaccination process indefinitely. As a result, diseases that were almost eradicated, such as measles, are reoccurring. As the epidemic became more frequent, I received an additional MMR (measles, rubella, mumps) vaccine last year. I received one of the first MMR vaccines in 1971. The last thing you need at 63 is to get measles, especially since you are a survivor of septic shock. I messaged my healthcare provider (HCP) and he requested a blood test to evaluate my antibodies, which were actually low. If you are unsure of your immunization status or whether you need a specific vaccine, we recommend that you talk to your health care provider.
What vaccines can I get?
Pharmacist Alisha Reed, a member of HealthyWomen’s Women’s Health Advisory Board and founder of Your Self Care Prescription, recommends preparing a list of questions you can bring to your appointment. “First, ask your health care provider about you and your child’s current immunization status and what immunizations they have already received,” Reed recommended. Your health care provider can usually find this in your medical records.
Questions to ask your health care provider about vaccines
recommended vaccines
- Which vaccine is recommended for me (or my loved one)?
- Is it important for me to get this vaccine?
- Are any of the recommended vaccines optional, or are they all required?
- How often should I get this vaccine?
- Is there a time of year when you should get the vaccine?
- Can I administer multiple doses at once?
Safety and side effects
- Am I at risk for getting the recommended vaccine?
- What are the most common side effects of each vaccine?
- Are there any serious reactions I should know about?
Your medical history and current medications
- Are there any vaccines I should consider based on my medical history or specific condition?
- Are there any vaccines I should avoid because of my specific medical history or condition?
- Should I be concerned about interactions between the medications I am taking and the vaccine?
You may have questions regarding eligibility for specific vaccines. This will depend on your age, risk factors, and health. For example, people with lung diseases such as COPD should ask whether the vaccine will protect against lung diseases such as COVID-19, flu, or RSV. There are several vaccines recommended for pregnant women, infants, and children.
Travelers also need multiple vaccinations to visit other countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides a wealth of information about travel-related vaccines. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and American Medical Association (AMA) also provide reliable information on common vaccines that you can use to prepare your list for your health care provider visit. And if you’re wondering if one of your previous vaccines is still effective, ask for an antibody test like I did for measles.
Drug Interactions and Inter-Vaccine Periods
Another good question is whether the drug interacts with or interferes with the effectiveness of the vaccine. “Some people cannot be vaccinated while receiving chemotherapy or monoclonal antibodies,” Dr. Reed said. Some people develop sensitivities or reactions due to the preservatives in the vaccine. Ask questions about the ingredients. These are all good questions and you should definitely include them on your list.
Ask your health care provider which vaccines are most important to you or your family and whether you can delay or skip certain vaccines. Ask how often you need reinforcements. Find out if you can get more than one vaccine at a time or if you have to wait some time in between. “Some people get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines together,” Reed said.
When is the vaccine season?
Ask your health care provider about the best time of year to get the vaccine. “Typically, respiratory illnesses can start in the fall and won’t decline until the end of winter,” Reed explained. But that isn’t always the case. Winter is definitely the peak season, but some disruptions occur year-round. My husband and I get the latest flu and Covid-19 vaccines every September. And we both received both versions of the pneumonia vaccine a few years ago. It was unfortunate when I got pneumonia in August 2023, but because I wasn’t vaccinated, I recovered at home instead of going to the hospital like I did when I got pneumonia in April 2021.
Deciding when to get vaccinated
Reed recommends talking to your health care provider if you need to schedule your vaccination for a specific day of the week in case you have a reaction. My husband and I are late with our shingles vaccinations. I was slowing her down for fear she would react in an uncomfortable way. About 10 years ago, I contracted herpes (shingles virus), a viral infection that causes a very painful rash, and the symptoms were severe. It took six months to recover, and the illness caused nerve damage. My health care provider suggested I get the vaccine on a Friday so I could have the weekend to recover if needed. My husband was fine. He mowed the grass in the garden. The first and second doses (also scheduled for Friday) hit me hard and I spent the weekend in bed with flu-like symptoms that were gone by Sunday afternoon. Still, all of this was better than actually getting shingles.
Your health care provider can discuss any side effects you may experience, and the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) also provides comprehensive information about vaccine side effects and side effects. Reed recommended getting the right information from real people with recognized credentials.
This educational material was produced with the support of . modern.
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